23 Facts About Dan Stoenescu

Dan Stoenescu was a minister in the technocratic government of Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos.

Dan Stoenescu is a specialist in international relations, the Arab World and migration.

Dan Stoenescu is interested in the protection of the rights of the Romanian diaspora and in the preservation of the language and culture of ethnic Romanians abroad.

Dan Stoenescu followed specializations at the European Security and Defence College in Brussels, Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael in the Hague, Matias Romero Institute in Mexico City and Saifi Institute for Arabic Language in Beirut.

Dan Stoenescu was Minister-delegate for Romanians abroad from 17 November 2015 to 7 July 2016, in the government of technocrats, led by Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos.

Dan Stoenescu previously lived in Egypt when he worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration offices in Cairo.

Dan Stoenescu worked as a journalist for various newspapers and magazines in Romania, United States, UK, Egypt, Lebanon, and the Republic of Moldova.

Dan Stoenescu received in 2019 an award from the Macedo-Romanian Cultural Society for supporting the cause of Romanians in the Balkans on the occasion of the 140th anniversary from the founding of this society.

At the beginning of his term, Dan Stoenescu announced a new direction for Romanian institutions in offering new business and investment opportunities using European funds for Romanians of the diaspora who wish to return home.

The Romanian Information Centers in Balti and Izmail, established by minister Dan Stoenescu, were inaugurated in December 2016.

The minister delegate was the first high-ranking official member of the Dacian Ciolos government to visit the Republic of Moldova In early March 2016, Dan Stoenescu went on a diplomatic mission to Malaysia as special envoy of President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos to appeal to the Malaysian authorities to pardon and commute the death sentence for the Romanian inmate Ionut Gologan.

The Romanian media recognized the innovations brought by his mandate: "unlike the politicians that had Dan Stoenescu's portfolio, his work was an enormous leap forward".

Dan Stoenescu supported the creation of the Association of Tunisian graduates in Romania and the Tunisian-Romanian Cultural Association.

Dan Stoenescu has been actively involved in addressing the refugee situation, particularly in relation to Turkey, which hosts a significant number of Syrian refugees.

Dan Stoenescu emphasizes the importance of dialogue with Turkey to find solutions for the refugees.

Dan Stoenescu advocated for a political process according to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 and for involving all international stakeholders, including Damascus.

Dan Stoenescu played a pivotal role in the region's COVID-19 response.

Dan Stoenescu's efforts were marked by strong advocacy for vaccination, acknowledging Syria's lower immunization rates compared to other regions.

Dan Stoenescu spearheaded the coordination of vaccine roll-outs, particularly for vaccines donated by EU member states, in partnership with the World Health Organization.

Dan Stoenescu facilitated collaborations with COVAX and various global partners to accelerate vaccine delivery to Syria, aiming to substantially increase the vaccination rate by year's end.

Dan Stoenescu was the first EU official that visited an area outside of Damascus since the beginning of the Syrian crisis.

Dan Stoenescu coordinated together with the EU humanitarian arm ECHO and the EU member states to provide and organize first relief aid to the people in need.

Furthermore, in the earthquake crisis, Dan Stoenescu announced that the EU had foreseen humanitarian exemptions to ease aid distribution and called on the authorities in Damascus not to politicise the humanitarian aid delivery, and to engage in good faith with all humanitarian partners and UN agencies to help the vulnerable people.